Is there a lack of love in R&B and music in general? Award-winning songwriter Claude Kelly believes there is a deficit when it comes to telling stories about falling in love and being heartbroken.
“We were being taught about life with our music, if you hadn’t been heartbroken before, you had already heard about it from somebody, so when that came along you could refer to something, and that’s not there anymore,” says Kelly. “I’m not sure how it will be fixed and that scares me.”
While Kelly has had success with recording artists including Fantasia, namely the Grammy Award winning and apt song “Bittersweet,” he says it’s almost like being soulful is not cool today.
“It’s almost like being black and being soulful is no longer cool, and that’s scary,” Kelly tells ThisIsRNB.
While you might not agree, Brian McKnight alluded to the same thing recently when defending his now controversial adult mixtape song “If You’re Ready To Learn.”
“Unfortunately no one plays that music anymore. What r true artists supposed to do?” McKnight said when asked why he is not focused on releasing music similar to songs from his discography.
“It’s funny how we listen and let our kids listen to songs about killing people and selling drugs and calling women b***hes,” McKnight went on to say. “I wrote this song, crude as it may be, about satisfying all women and look what happened.”
With that said, do Claude Kelly and Brian McKnight have valid points?
Claude Kelly is an R&B singer and songwriter who has been in the music industry for over a decade. He’s collaborated with some of music’s biggest names, including Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. But despite his impressive resume, he’s recently noticed that being black and soulful isn’t as cool or popular as it once was. In this article, we’ll explore why Claude believes that being black and soulful is no longer cool.
The rise of mainstream hip-hop has had many positive impacts on pop culture but it has also led to the diminishing importance of R&B singers like Claude Kelly. Hip-hop focuses heavily on beats and lyrics rather than vocal technique or musicality – something which R&B artists like Claude excel at. As a result, audiences have shifted their attention away from what Claude does best: singing soulfully from the heart.
Claude Kelly feels strongly about this trend; he believes that there are still people out there who appreciate great vocals sung with passion and emotion – qualities which cannot be replicated by any computer program or synthesized beat. So if you’re one of those people looking for real emotion in your music then read on to find out why Claude insists that being black and soulful is still important – even if it doesn’t seem “cool” anymore.
Biography Of Claude Kelly
Claude Kelly is an R&B singer, songwriter and producer from Los Angeles. He was born in the Bronx and grew up listening to soulful music like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Al Green. His career began as a teen writing for artists such as Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Leona Lewis among others. He then went on to write songs for some of the biggest names in the industry including Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson.
Kelly’s music is deeply rooted in his African American heritage with its strong emphasis on melodies that are both soulful and uplifting. Despite this he believes that being black and soulful is no longer cool, at least not within mainstream pop culture. To him it feels like the genre has been pushed aside by more commercialized Pop & Dance styles which dominate today’s charts. This shift away from traditional R&B has made it difficult for him to find success in the music industry but he continues to strive nonetheless.
However, despite these changes Claude remains hopeful about the future of Soul Music noting that there have been other times throughout history where genres have shifted only to come back even stronger than before when people became more open minded about what they were willing to listen to. For now though he will continue making music true to his heart regardless of whether or not it becomes popular – something we can all learn from!
Evolution Of Soulful Music
Interestingly enough, soulful music has been able to evolve and adapt despite its lack of commercial success in today’s mainstream. Its versatility as a genre has allowed it to remain relevant by incorporating elements from other genres such as hip-hop and EDM while still maintaining its core values. This is evident in the growing trend of “neo-soul” which blends traditional R&B sounds with modern production techniques and instrumentation. Artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott have become popular due to this new style of Soul Music that retains the essence of classic soul yet provides something fresh for younger audiences.
Despite these changes, some of the greatest performers within the genre have remained true to their roots by continuing to create music rooted in traditional R&B styles. Such artists include John Legend, Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys who all embrace their African American heritage through their music whilst providing timeless messages about love, struggle and empowerment. These artists prove that it is possible to be both black & soulful while still being successful within contemporary pop culture – something Claude Kelly stands witness too!
The future looks bright for those passionate about keeping Soul Music alive with many promising young acts emerging on the scene such as H.E.R., SZA and Anderson .Paak – proving there is an audience out there willing to appreciate an art form steeped in tradition but delivered with a modern twist. Long may the power of soul continue!
Conclusion
In conclusion, Claude Kelly has been a successful musician for many years. His career began with soulful music and he adapted to the changing trends in order to remain relevant. While it may be true that being black and soulful is no longer “cool,” this doesn’t mean there isn’t still an audience out there who appreciates what Claude has to offer. He’s managed to stay current while still honoring his roots as an artist, which is something we can all respect.
Although the landscape of popular music has changed over time, one thing remains constant: Claude Kelly will always have a place in R&B history. He’s made significant contributions to the genre and continues to inspire us all with his unique style of artistry. We should appreciate him now more than ever before and support his work moving forward. I’m sure he’ll continue finding ways to reinvent himself while staying true to his musical identity.
Claude Kelly has earned our admiration by adapting and evolving throughout his career. It goes without saying that being black and soulful may not necessarily be cool at times, but it definitely never loses its power or relevance when it comes from someone like Claude Kelly!
